New Signings – Fantasy Premier League 2015/16. Bamford, Lens, Mitrovic, Kaboul
Popular Eurovision beat combo, Bucks Fizz, once sang, “Don’t let your indecision take you from behind”. Wise words indeed. With barely a week left until the first ball of a new season is kicked, most FPL gaffers will be fairly settled with their squad. And judging by Twitter, everyone has pretty much the same squad anyway. But it’s landing on those final 2 or 3 places that cause the most anguish. Tick. 5 days left, and that 3rd striker slot is obviously Deeney’s. But wait… Patrick who? Oh. Well he’s the one. Tock. 2 days left, Mitrovic. Mitrovic! Maybe. Tick. Then those final minutes; the painfully slow logging in as the Premier League website grinds to a Berbatov-like jog. It’s not enough time. It’s not enough time! Tock. Time up. Don’t let your indecision take you from behind.
Here are some words about footballers.
PATRICK BAMFORD (Crystal Palace – Forward – £6.0mln)
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Selhurst Park’s new recruit is so defined by his perpetually nomadic existence that he may be better served changing his name to ‘On loan from Chelsea’. It’s not the most shirt-friendly name to have on one’s back, but why should Jan Venegoor of Hesselink have all the fun? ‘OLFC’ joined the Blues in 2012 and has chalked up 43 goals in just shy of a century of games, taking in the sights of Milton Keynes, Derby and Middlesbrough. Unbelievably, he’s yet to play a single minute for Chelsea. But then, one can’t expect Jose to find room for a promising young English striker when (and this is just an example picked at random) he can pay £140k a week for a 29-year-old who scored 4 goals last season. On the bright side, at least Bamford can finally move to London now, and all the pre-season signs indicate his growth will continue along it’s parabolic path. A few more repeats of his tidy triple against Bromley last week and a return to the deed poll may be in order. ‘Hat-trick’ Patrick anyone?
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JEREMAIN LENS (Sunderland – Midfielder – £6.5mln)
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The arrival of Jeremain Lens gives the Black Cats some welcome balance, and now have genuine attacking width on either flank. We all know about the threat Adam Johnson poses, especially to [comment removed by legal team], but on the other wing it seems Advocaat has found talent to mirror the Englishman perfectly. A left-winger that likes to cut inside and look for goal certainly possesses the qualities to pique FPL interest. Coming from a mixed couple of seasons at Dynamo Kyiv, the Mackem masses will hope the Dutchman can recreate his PSV form which peaked in 2012/13, finding the net 15 times in 30 games. Furthermore, the Dutch Eredivisie saw him regularly register double figure assists. That the Sunderland manager’s brought him to the Stadium of Light is no great surprise, having worked with him at AZ Alkmaar then PSV. By all accounts Lens was the only positive to take from Sunderland’s recent woeful 2-0 defeat at Doncaster. If Dick’s boys can get their act together, his team’s kind start to the season could see fantasy managers soon switch their focus to Lens.
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ALEKSANDAR MITROVIC (Newcastle United – Forward – £6.5mln)
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At £12m, the 20 year-old Serbian international is the Magpies 4th most expensive ever capture. Admirably swatting away interest from both Roma and Porto, Newcastle have managed to secure a striker boasting a bumper 20 goal campaign in Belgium’s Jupiler Pro League (Nope, me neither). In fact, over his two seasons with Anderlecht he’s scored 36 times in 69 games. Impressive for someone so young, and it suggests McClaren has made a very shrewd investment. Self-styled on personal idols Didier Drogba and Alan Shearer, the 6ft 2in Mitrovic will hope to follow the latter into Geordie folklore, and not go the way of, say, Obafemi Martins or Michael Owen. Or Mark Viduka. Or Antoine Sibierski. Or Marlon Harewood. Or Emmanuel Riviere. Described by the new manager as “a real warrior” the Serb does currently lack match fitness and one wonders whether he’ll be thrown into the starting lineup straight away. But he’s definitely one for the Toon Army to get excited about.
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YOUNES KABOUL (Sunderland – Defence – £4.5mln)
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“Younes wouldn’t join Sunderland even if there was an earthquake. We have more interesting options than Sunderland. Don’t even think about it.” Yes. Those were the words of Younes Kaboul’s agent in 2008. Well, 7 years on and despite there being no earthquake, Kaboul clearly no longer had ‘more interesting options’. Not since Pascal Chimbonda, has a player’s arrival stirred such shoulder-shrugging apathy. In fact, this is probably the first most have heard about it. It’s hard to make a case for Kaboul as a fantasy option, when even teammates Van Aanholt and O’Shea have more appeal, and with only 3 goals in 5 years you don’t get much added value, even at £4.5m. He did however get given the armband in the second half of their Doncaster friendly, so one could argue that Advocaat trusts him and is likely to be a somewhat reliable fixture in his eleven. Barrel scraped. Straws clutched. Job done.
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Evening all, great read Bry, well in.
Rumour klaxon is going. Hearing a report that Liverpool want another marquee signing, possibly breaking their own transfer record. Bit strange for me.
Did you hear who it might be?? I did read that Liverpool were still looking at signing Lacazette to replace Sturridge as he keeps getting injured. Don’t know how true that really is.
Theres Lacazette, Reus and Mulleur being the names bandied about at the moment. Think its not going to be them 3 myself.
To be fair Reus has been mentioned so many times and nothing has happened would love to see him at Anfield though. It’ll probably be someone we haven’t heard of, but Rodgers thinks he’ll be a marquee signing in a few years.
Not a hope is it Reus or Muller. I think Lacazette is staying put as well. My money is on Torres, £59m. Bargain.
Elle, if it’s either Reus or Muller I’ll buy you a new set of hubcaps 😉
NiN + Kop, i’ve said it won’t be any of them 3 myself. Like the Torres one NiN.
Is anyone considering Schneiderlin for their team? I know he’s not the greatest pick and is more defensive but at £5.5m could he be a decent option to get through the first few GW’s, vs teams United usually maul, until a player around that price rears his head as an option?
I’m not looking at him NIN. He could end up bagging a few as per last season but you will need to be lucky in owning him during those few games. Same reason I decided against Ivan.
I’d rather take a punt on one of the promoted lads Abdi or Ritchie for either 0.5 less or 0.5 more.
Cheers CC. I’m struggling to get someone at that price. I’ve some promoted defenders working in a rotation so not too pushed on going with any of their attackers as well. I thought of Mahrez but not sure i’d want him in my team every week. Larsson too, but that would make triple Sunderland. Sigh, start again?
How’s your lot coming along?
I feel your pain mate! I’m going round in circles now. Should have done like Init and Cookie and left it until a few days remained as it’s impossible to stop tinkering.
I like two rotations: Norwich/Stoke and West Ham/Bournemouth, so trying to see about getting one of each in from them and see how it changes things.
Don’t believe a word Cookie says, he’s been tinkering with his team for at least two weeks
*feels like months 😉 #moreprivatermtthanrich
Which combo?
1) benteke, davis(Southampton), huth
Or
2) deeney, hendo, azpiliqueta
Second one
Aye second one probably now Benteke isn’t playing tomorrow.
Forgot to mention, option 1 is with Walcott and option 2 is with Ozil……does that change anything ?? I’m starting to prefer Ozil over Walcott as he will play the no 10 role and Walcott will have to fight for his place either on the wing or as a centre forward, but he has the potential to explode!!!! What do you guys think?
Yeah I have that problem. Can’t decide on Ozil or Walcott. Walcott has more potential to score more points but is less likely to play.
How does this look? 5.0m for another Midfield
GK – rotate
Def – 2x premium Cedric/O’Shea rotate
Ritchie will rotate with Sakho for the first 4 GW
Walcott can become a City player eventually or Depay etc
Evening Ripcurl. Don’t really like Sakho in there but there isn’t much choice at that price maybe downgrade to 5.5 and bring in a 6.5 mid instead.
I can change Sakho – Wilson and upgrade Ritchie
You could do that but it would still mean you need a 5.0 m mid and I don’t think there are any worth while at that price.
Lambert signed for West Brom at 2 and has already played and scored for them! Could be good once fixtures ease up.
How much is he Matt? I’ve got WBA in the poor fixture section of the article but as you say, could and probably will be good once they get beyond those. Nice easy switch into a recognised striker from one of these ‘punty’ newbies would be good.
He’s 6m so would need to squeeze .5 out of somewhere but like you said unless one of the newbies are on fire then it’ll be better to switch to an experienced player.
Brilliant read Bry Cheers mate. Bamford and Lens could be some good players given time.